Dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden was create 30 years ago by author R.A. Salvatore , and the enduringly popular character will before long hark back in a stain - unexampled phantasy adventure trilogy . The first Holy Scripture , Timeless , is n’t out until September , but we ’ve flummox a rather kick - keister exclusive excerption to share here on io9 .
First , here ’s a detailed summary to get you even more excited for the book :
Centuries ago , in the city of Menzoberranzan , the City of Spiders , the city of drow , snuggle deeply in the merciless Underdark of Toril , a young artillery master earn a reputation far above his station or that of his poor family .
Zaknafein .
The large nobles watched him , and one powerful Matron — Malice — decided to take him as her own . She connived with rival houses to secure her prize , but it was ultimately the roguish Jarlaxle who caught him .
Thus sparked the birth of two fundamental moments in Menzoberranzan : the coupling of a noble and weapon master that would bring out Drizzt Do’Urden … and the friendship between Zaknafein and Jarlaxle .
R. A. Salvatore break the Underdark afresh through the eye of of this unlikely pair — offering a wise take on the machination and chance to be set up in the shadower , and ply a fascinating overture to the journeys that have shaped the modern - day Forgotten Realms . There , Zaknafein and Drizzt are join together in a serial of trials that duplicate those of centuries longsighted past , even though their paths no longer seem to be aligned . How will a don , so long encumber by the vicious and materialistic existence of the drow , be able to reconcile his ingrained preconception with the populace and fellow traveller of his enlightened Logos ?
The solvent lies in their desire for peace over chaos . And as long as the scourge of the goddess Lolth ’s ambitions still remain , both are compulsive to keep her black will at bay . But the Spider Queen is powerful , and now demons have been let loose on the unknowing denizen of the aerofoil world . United in use — and through their mutual friendship with Jarlaxle — Zaknefein and Drizzt will need to put apart their differences for keep the ones they make love secure .
And here ’s the full cover , postdate by the excerpt , in which another fabled Salvatore character — Drizzit ’s father , Zaknafein — engages in some intense magical scrap with an invading wizard .
“ I ’m not warm of your choice , ” Arathis Hune said when Jarlaxle and Zaknafein connect him in the suite he had rented under the name of House Hunzrin . The room was well render , with three comfortable beds , but the webbed ceiling hung very gloomy , scarce above the head teacher of Jarlaxle , who was the tallest of the three .
“ It was the expert choice , ” Jarlaxle respond . “ The host is a friend . ”
“ You mean the dead guy out at the desk ? ” whispered Zaknafein , who was standing at the threshold , holding it more or less ajar and looking out at the primary area of the establishment .
“ Priveer Bar’cl … ” Jarlaxle start to reply until the free weight of Zaknafein ’s words hit him .
The weapon passe-partout swung wide the room access and leaped out , dodging a flair of blast as he did . “ Down ! ” Zaknafein yelled to his companions still in the room , and he dove , too , flying to the side of the open door even as a witching fireball explode within the apartment .
Zaknafein range right back to his invertebrate foot , weapon in hands , as the drow wizard , his invisibility spell ended by the approach , came into opinion . Zaknafein was no veteran of battling wizards , but he had sure enough killed more than a few priestess in his year , and so he figured the maneuver were much the same : get in last .
That would not prove easy , though , as a pair of fencer leaped from concealment , one from behind the desk , the other from behind a web screen over by the room ’s far recession , both rushing to impede his way to the spellcaster .
Which mean he was n’t going to get to the wizard in time , and the drow was already casting another magic spell .
Zaknafein cut left to intercept the homo from the corner , but discontinue short and snapped his good arm around , confuse his sword spear - like at the warrior coming the other way . That drow bewilder his swords up together to avert the missile , but it still clipped his shoulder , drawing a painful gash and putting him back on his heels .
The other warrior came in firmly , both swords stabbing , but with his left over hand alone , the skilled weapon master deflect and parried , even come back with a abrupt and true return to put the drow back on his heels .
Zaknafein used the moment to tug the whip from his belt . He institute it spinning up above his top dog , strike down back his correct groundwork to turn to confront the neophyte . The mere action of the whiplash had that drow slowing , which was precisely what Zaknafein had count on as he half turned back and snap the whip into the face of the spellcaster instead .
The wizard ’s magical Barbara Ward stopped the weapon from connecting , but the snap so near his eyes deflect him and interrupted his go .
And all the while , Zaknafein run his odd - hired man steel , keeping the warrior drow at embayment . The other was coming back again , though , and Zaknafein knew he had to pull in one’s horns . He started back a step , but hear a toilsome oink and watched the incoming warrior pitch and stagger to the side .
Most dark ELF carried low handcrossbows . Arathis Hune , though , kept a sizable one on his back , one that threw bolts that demand no poisonous substance to drop a foe . And he knew how to apply it .
The wounded drow staggered , a run-in deep into his thigh . He grimace and sample to tidy , but then began howling .
Because the large dash was poisoned anyway , Zaknafein take in . Why not ?
He crack the whip again at the wizard , though that one had already lessen back out of ambit . Unfazed , Zaknafein came around , still working the whiplash , and short - snapped it to the side of his closer opposition ’s sword , once and then again .
“ Get the wizard ! ” he yelled to Arathis Hune , but even as he cried out , a line of fire race behind him , not from the hotshot , but at the wizard .
A lightning bolt follow , then a fly blob of viscous goo that slammed the poor fellow and drive him up against the wall , stick him there .
And then another lightning dash roared into the poor associate , and Zaknafein understand then that Jarlaxle was incensed – he had never watch such a barrage from the mercenary . He figured that the boniface must have been a secure friend , perhaps even a Bregan D’aerthe agent , but when he glanced at Jarlaxle , he saw another potential reason .
The soldier of fortune ’s hair’s-breadth , what was still leave of it , was still fume .
Back beyond Jarlaxle , Arathis Hune had reloaded and was drive , but now toward the inn ’s door , where more assassinator were coming on fast .
No clip now for game or refinement . Zaknafein snapped the whip in the air above his foe ’s head , but only for effect and to put it in line for his real onslaught . With outstanding acquisition and sleight , Zaknafein reached far forward with his right deal and sweep the whip out to the left , deftly bowdlerise the stroke to send it swinging over the twin brand he continued to parry .
His opposite saw the trick and tried to retract , but Zaknafein was quick with his tug .
He could n’t keep the swords engaged , of track , nor did he extract either from the drow warrior ’s grasp , but he entangle them just enough for him to pull them to his right while he skid by to the left .
He could have killed that drow – were it a priestess of Lolth , he for sure would have – but instead he punch out with a wholesale left hook , mosh the fellow across the jaw with the nut knob of his sword . The warrior distribute and went to one knee , and Zaknafein kept spinning , and leap , well clearing the last cut of his antagonist ’s freed blades .
Down came Zaknafein from on high , the impulse of his drop and his tailspin tally force as he brought his hard boot into the warrior ’s face , pose him level out on the flooring . He kick one of the swords away and stump down severely on the drow ’s other radiocarpal joint , then thrust aside his cut whip , damage by the blade it had entangled , and scoop the freed weapon as his own .
He attend the other warrior as he came around , the man leaning intemperately against the wall , screaming in agony , hold tight at his branch and clutching too , Zaknafein could tell , at his very cognizance .
Behind the warrior , the wizard hung on the wall , looking more like a search prize than a threat .
The battle was far from won , though , for over at the entrance of the tap house , another duo of drow warriors appear , and as before long as Zaknafein — and Arathis Hune get from the paired paries — originate for them , they parted and post a line of powerful bogeyman streaming into the scrap .
“ Left flank ! ” Zaknafein called to Jarlaxle . He and Arathis Hune met the bugbear charge side by side , holding a line , but not near enough to the door , and so more of the beast were pouring in , drag about to Zaknafein ’s leave , threatening to flank the pair .
And where was Jarlaxle ?
Something flittered past Zaknafein as he was forced to drop his remaining foot back to intercept a bugbear render to rush past . He had no idea of what Jarlaxle might be up to , if it was even Jarlaxle that had sent the strange missile . Whoever it was , it made no sense to him , because it was n’t some devil’s weed of magical burst .
No , it was a feather . A vast , strange feathering .
Until it touched the ground , and then , so suddenly , it became a mammoth , flightless , thick - embodied , blockheaded - legged , Brobdingnagian - clawed freak .
Zaknafein shy reflexively , as did the bogeyman – or at least , the boogeyman tried to back forth . But the gargantuan raspberry was quicker and it smack the goblinoid atop the point with its massive bill , a punish shock that sent the bugbear straight to the floor , its heart hustle , its skull shattered .
The left flank secured , the giant chick leap ahead fearlessly , hopping , glance over with is homicidal nipper , batting its short but thick wings , and driving back the press of bugbears .
A twirl , a feint , a step back as if in retreat , and a sudden reversal led by a thrust dispatched the bugaboo standing before Zaknafein , and a second , surprising stab with his right - hand steel went immediately over the falling teras and direct into the face of the bogeyman thinking to take its place .
Beside Zaknafein , Arathis Hune , too , dispatched his immediate opponent , but chance himself face up with a pair of replacements .
“ Jarlaxle ! ” Zaknafein called again , for he was suddenly too engaged to help his flank fellow .
Even as he call for the help , though , it seemed a debatable point , for another pea of flame soared in through the door .
“ Break and flee ! ” Jarlaxle shouted from somewhere behind , and with a powerhouse about to explode , neither Zaknafein or Arathis Hune was about to argue . As one , they turned to hideaway …
Only to wonder where they could retreat to .
The resolution became apparent when they spy the magical hole cast off against the back wallby their companion , who was already plunge out of the establishment .
So go Arathis Hune , and so work Zaknafein , and so went a pursuing booger , but that one came through aflame as the fireball exploded within the inn , filling the coarse room with fire and the cries of bugbears and the shrieking of a flare giant bird . A burst of flames came roaring out , as well , but it was suddenly extinguish as Jarlaxle tugged his portable hold away from the wall , returning it to normal – and an heartbeat after , there number a heavy thud as another bugaboo try on to appoint out of the conflagration through the hole that was no longer there .
“ Do not let them escape , ” Jarlaxle said with a boo , and that strait was tell to Zaknafein , who was already up and running about the side of the inn . He had never take heed the mercenary leader so obviously overturned .
No fourth dimension to weigh that now , though , for on the other side of the small inn stand up a drow wizard and her guards , at ease and staring at the combustion inn , distinctly believing that their targets remained inside the down flames .
The look on their three boldness when Zaknafein leaped around the edge of the social structure into their midst brought a smile to the deathly weapon master ’s lip . The look on their faces as his rap gracefully took the pharynx from the wizard and his second sword brush past the nearest warrior to cut him across both articulatio radiocarpea as he turn over to react , were even more delicious .
Zaknafein turn , too , look up with him , and his remaining hooking took the gentleman in the font , while he flipped his right-hand - hand sword over and stab it straight behind him , catching the other leaping warrior by surprisal — right in the chest .
Jarlaxle and Arathis Hune came running about the building at just that moment , to receive all three of the rest drow defeated , the wizard rolling on the priming coat , seize tightly at her haemorrhage neck , the impaled warrior lying quite still , and the other hold up his cut wrists as he knelt there falteringly on one knee , his nose dripping blood .
“ Go get my feather , ” Jarlaxle told Zaknafein , moving by toward the fall sorceress . At that same moment , Arathis Hune ’s blade tip settle against the back of the wounded warrior ’s neck .
Zaknafein stepped back and stood up straight . With a glance around , he sheathed his swords and turned back for the burn structure , though it was more smolder than inferno at that gunpoint , since much of it was constructed with thick but easily melted webbing . He move up to the door and kick it , expecting it to fall in . But it catch on some strand of gooey webbing and topple back outside rather , hitting the ground with a whoosh of sparks .
In the main room , Zaknafein found some boogeyman writhing , but posing no threat . A agile CAT scan and he saw the smolder carcase of the elephantine bird Jarlaxle had summon .
The only unburned feather that he regain , though , seemed hardly worth retrieving , calculate more like a sprig than a snort ’s feather . He shrugged and peck it up , pocket it , then moving to the star hanging on the bulwark .
That drow was alive , most of the goo burn away , though enough remained to keep him aloft and his feet were still off the floor . The warrior charge by Arathis Hune had perish , though whether from the fireball or the poisonous substance , Zaknafein could n’t tell , and did n’t care , but the drow he had knocked out was still active , and just part to stir .
Jarlaxle walked into the elbow room . “ I depend two dead drow , seven utter bugbears , and four captive , including a wizard , ” he said .
“ And we are unharmed , ” Zaknafein replied .
“ An gentle remark for you to make , ” Jarlaxle said and chuck his once - again singed head , where most of his hair had burn by and much of his skin appear as though it had been caramelized . His subsequent growl made it clean that he was not divert .
With a shrug Zaknafein handed him the plumage . “ Your fowl – was that a hiss ? – too , ” he explained . “ Might be good eating , though . ”
Jarlaxle drive the plumage stub and put on his dry grinning once more . “ It will raise back , ” he say .
Zaknafein look at the free-lance leader ’s poll and prove to appear encouraging .
“ Not the whisker , ” Jarlaxle explained . “ Though I will see to that with a priestess when we return to Menzoberranzan . ”
“ Perhaps the God are render to separate you something , ” Zaknafein quipped . “ Every time I see you , your fountainhead is on fire . ”
“ Not the hair , ” ’ Jarlaxle say again , in even and unappeasable tones . “ The feather , the bird . The feathering will grow back , and so revert to me my utilitarian positron emission tomography when I need it . ”
Somehow , Zaknafein was n’t surprised . The man have a bun in the oven holes , spring up gargantuan birds from feathers , and acted as if the matron mothers wreak for him .
And perhaps , in Jarlaxle ’s mind , they did .
It occur to Zaknafein Do’Urden then that it probably was n’t a skillful life conclusion to remain near this dangerous fiber , but he agitate the opinion aside , more than unforced to take the risk .
Because it was so much fun .
R.A. Salvatore ’s Timeless : A Drizzt Novel goes on sale September 4 — but you may pre - consecrate a signed copyat this link ; it ’s a hardcover , Barnes & Noble - exclusive edition that include a unforesightful story chronicle a brand - unexampled Drizzt and Catti - brie adventure .
Timeless
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